john51merc

As a fan of smaller cars there is a special place in my heart for the hot hatch. Undersized with a peppy engine, they can come across as the underdog but are fun to drive. Muscle cars are awesome with low-end torque, but there is a unique form of pride when you can get great road performance with less horsepower. Plus what’s more fun pushing the limit of a hot hatch on a twisty two-lane road?

If you were a consumer in the mid-80s and prefer American cars you didn’t have a lot of hot hatch options from domestic producers, but Carroll Shelby provided his golden touch to one manufacturer.

The Pick of the Day is a 1986 Dodge Omni GLH-S listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealer in O’Fallon, Illinois. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Though many know Carroll Shelby worked much of his career with Ford, there was a time in the 80’s that he was heavily improving the performance of the Dodge stable,” the listing states. “The Omni was an economy-minded car designed to help get from point A to point B as efficient as possible. A special trim GLH (for “goes Like Hell”) was introduced in 1984 with help from Mr. Shelby.” 

Shelby’s influence on the Omni was immediate as the horsepower in the 2.2-liter four-cylinder turbocharged engine was increased from 146 to 175 over the lower model GLH. Mopar fans had a proper hot hatch, but production was limited to 500.

This example is #53 and received a documented restoration, circa 2002-2003. The 2.2-liter inline-four turbo engine’s boost pressure was increased to 16-17 psi and the five-speed manual transmission features an upgraded limited-slip differential.

The asking price is $19,000 for this Shelby hot hatch from Dodge and the listing indicates that it has 10,538 miles since the rebuild. The pictures in the listing show a car that’s in solid shape on the inside and outside.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Has your family ever had a car that became or was an heirloom?

Give us your take in the comments section.

Take a moment and enjoy our photo gallery of 1980s and 1990s Dodge concept vehicles.

1988 Dodge Intrepid concept 

1989 Dodge Viper concept

1991 Dodge Neon concept

1992 Dodge Epic concept

1994 Dodge Venom concept

1996 Dodge Intrepid ESX concept

1997 Dodge Copperhead concept

1997 Dodge Sidewinder concept

1999 Dodge Power Wagon concept

1999 Dodge Charger concept

Some classic cars fly under the radar, while others beg for attention. Today’s example, according to its seller, is “Not for the introvert.”

The Pick of the Day is a 1963 Chrysler Imperial LeBaron listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Belfair, Washington. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Whenever I drive this car, it attracts a sizeable crowd. Be prepared. It’s a definite head-turner with its unusual design – floating headlights, rectangular steering wheel, and futuristic cockpit.”

The Imperial name dates back almost 100 years when it was first used on a Chrysler model in 1926. In 1955, the Imperial lineup branched off as a standalone brand and it stayed that way for a couple of decades. Formally, it was known as the “Imperial Division of Chrysler Corporation.” Chrysler even went so far as to send notices to state agencies informing them that the Imperial had become its own make.

A second generation for the Imperial line launched in 1957 boasting new design language while retaining a rigid perimeter frame all the way through 1966. “This was the most expensive of the luxury Imperial line in 1963, with only 1,537 built,” the listing states. A repaint was applied in 2007, and the car reportedly has an accident-free history. “The car has been in a private collection for the past 30-something years and always garaged in a climate-controlled facility.”

Power for this four-door luxury sedan comes from a 413cid V8 that was rated at 340 horsepower. “It runs great and cruises down the highway at 70 mph effortlessly,” the seller says. While mechanically sound, this LeBaron does have a few outstanding needs. The specifics mentioned in the listing are an inoperative fuel gauge, radio, power seat, and right rear power window.

The interior is my favorite part about this car, showing a unique and stylish mid-century dash design, complete with control panels that flank the instrument cluster in a setup that looks sort of like tailfins. The push-button automatic transmission is controlled on the left side, and the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning are controlled on the right. No wonder this car gets people talking.

“I am retiring soon, and we have decided to move out of the country,” the seller concludes.

The asking price is $23,000 or best offer for this attention-getting LeBaron.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

What’s your favorite hood ornament?

Give us your take in the comments section.

Anyone driving in Texas should beware. The Texas Highway Patrol now has a Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat Widebody pumping out 1,080 hp.

The car was awarded to the Texas Department of Public Safety, which encompasses the Highway Patrol, by a judge, according to a Facebook post by the agency. It seems the Hellcat was once the property of a criminal suspect.

“The 1,080 hp Dodge Hellcat went from evading law enforcement in Harris Co. to now catching criminals wherever it roams in Texas,” the post reads.

The four-digit horsepower output quoted by the cops also indicates the Hellcat has been modified. Recall that the Hellcat’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 initially produced 707 hp (and 650 lb-ft of torque) from the factory. For the 2019 model year, it got a boost to 717 hp and 656 lb-ft of torque for the standard version, and 797 hp and 707 lb-ft of torque for the Hellcat Redeye version.

This isn’t the first time cops have enlisted a Challenger. The Florida Highway Patrol unveiled a Challenger police car in 2019, although that was based on the naturally aspirated 5.7-liter V-8 R/T model rated at 372 hp. The Challenger’s four-door Charger sibling has also become a staple of police fleets.

The Challenger and Charger are going away after the 2023 model year. Dodge is sending them off with a series of seven Last Call models, after which it will shift focus to electrified cars. Dodge’s first EV, a performance car previewed by the Charger Daytona SRT concept, is scheduled to arrive in 2024. When it does, maybe it will be pressed into police service as well.

This article was originally published by Motor Authority, an editorial partner of ClassicCars.com.

As far as tri-five Chevys go, the two-door hardtop models steal most of the limelight in the collector community. But there is something special and unique to be said about a four-door hardtop, especially when it’s done up professionally with a fully documented restoration and a stack of records.

The Pick of the Day is a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Brandon, Mississippi. (Click the link to view the listing)

“Always garage-kept and carefully maintained,” the listing states. “We have a stack of records back to 1974. In 2005 it underwent a restoration with all-new paint in the original Larkspur Blue; new chrome and trim pieces were added.” A display board showing a photographic chronology of the restoration process is stored in the trunk and accompanies the sale.

The Bel Air name first appeared as a trim level on two-door hardtops in the Chevrolet model lineup in 1950, named after a wealthy neighborhood in Los Angeles. The nameplate transitioned to become a standalone model in 1953 and was positioned at the upper end of the Chevrolet hierarchy.

A second generation launched in 1955 and brought with it significant changes to design and engineering; exterior lines incorporated more shoebox-style characteristics as opposed to rounded fenders. Updates for 1956 and 1957 evolved the new look, and in 1957, Bel Air models received the iconic large tailfins and a “twin rocket” hood design. In all, six different body styles were offered, including variations of two-door and four-door hardtops, sedans, convertibles, and station wagons.

This Bel Air comes in the four-door hardtop variety and received some additional styling flair courtesy of fender skirts and a continental kit mounted at the rear. Momentum is derived from a 283cid V8 that is fed by a Holley four-barrel carburetor and mated to a rebuilt Powerglide automatic transmission. The seller states that the car runs smoothly.

“The car is show-ready and is a great driver. Ready for cruising the coast this year,” the listing says.

Best of all, this Bel Air comes as a package deal with lots of supporting memorabilia, including a baseball cap, a jacket, a tool kit, the aforementioned restoration documentation, awards, a shop manual, and two wide whitewall spare tires (one in the trunk and one inside the continental kit).

The seller is asking $34,900 or best offer for this unique hardtop and all of the above items.

To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.

Have you ever junked a car that today you would have kept and restored instead?

Give us your take in the comments section.

Among C2 Corvettes, the 1963 Split-window is the most iconic, but almost everyone wants a 427 ’67. That was the year that the 435-horsepower L71 made its debut, as well as the L89 aluminum-head option and the race-inspired L88. For those reasons, the 1967 Corvette arguably is the ultimate incarnation of Chevrolet’s sports car.

One of those 1967 Corvettes is currently featured on AutoHunter, the online auction platform driven by ClassicCars.com. This convertible has had two prior Ohio owners and is powered by a solid-lifter 427 with tri-carb induction backed by a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission. Features include transistorized ignition, F41 suspension, original exhausts with sidepipes, and AM/FM radio. Refinished in the original shade of green with white “Stinger” and a white convertible top, this C2 Corvette is available now from the selling dealer with the original accessory hardtop, factory documentation plus restoration photos, inspection report from Corvette expert Pancho Thompson and a clear Ohio title.

The exterior has been refinished in the original Goodwood Green. Features include white convertible top with green accessory hardtop, driver-side mirror and newer rocker moldings. According to the Pancho Thompson inspection report, the chrome, taillights and bumpers have also been replaced.

A set of silver Rallye wheels, with the correct shallow center caps and stainless-steel trim rings, is wrapped in new Firestone Super Sports 7.75 x 15 redline bias-ply tires.

The bucket seats are upholstered in black vinyl and are complemented by black door panels, carpeting and rubber floor mats. Other features include wooden three-spoke steering wheel with manual steering. According to the Pancho Thompson inspection report, the seat covers, door panels, dash pad and carpeting are original.

A 160-mph speedometer, 7K-rpm tachometer, gauges for the fuel level, oil pressure, coolant temperature and voltage, and inoperative clock are located ahead of the driver. The odometer reads 26K miles, which the selling dealer believes to be accurate.

Power is provided by a 435-horsepower L71 big-block backed by a Muncie M21 four-speed manual transmission, both numbers-matching. Features include newer orange paint on the engine block and valve covers, aluminum intake, three two-barrel carburetors, reproduction chrome air cleaner, and chrome distributor cover. The selling dealer notes that the car was serviced, inspected and filled with new fluids in the winter of 2021.

This Corvette was factory-equipped with four-wheel independent suspension and the optional F41 “special front and rear suspension.” The numbers-matching Positraction rear end is equipped with 3.70 gears. Braking is provided by manual discs on all four corners.

The selling dealer will include the Protect-O-Plate, build sheet off the fuel tank, and several original parts including bumpers, chrome trim, taillights, rocker moldings and side-exit exhaust covers.

This 1967 Corvette convertible’s auction ends on Thursday, October 13, 2022, at 12:20 p.m. (PDT)

Visit the AutoHunter listing for more information and photo gallery.